Electric socket and electric bulb base



Sept. 5, 1939. J. MARSZALSKI I ELECTRIC SOCKET AND ELECTRIC BULB BASEFiled July 25, 1938 Even/01;

Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNIT ED? 3 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inelectrical connectors of the socket and plug type for efiecting theconnection of lamp bulbs and the like to a source of current.

It has for one of its objects to provide an electrical connector of thischaracter which is so designed as to effect a firm and positiveconnection of its component parts by a forward or end thrust of the plugelement into the socket element.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a simple andinexpensive plug and socket connector which is rugged in construction,which is not liable to break connection due to external vibrations, andwhich is designed to afford ventilation between its plug and socketelements.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved connector as applied to alamp bulb and socket. Figure 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal section thereof. Figure 3 is a. horizontal section taken on line 3-3',Figure 1.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

By way of example, my electrical connector has been shown in connectionwith an electric lamp or bulb l0 whose base or plug-in element l l isattached in any suitable manner to the top of the bulb. The socketelement of the connector, into which the plug-in element of the lamp isinsertable for supporting it and for establishing'the circuit of thelamp, is indicated at l2 and is shown as secured to and suspended from asuitable holder 'or fitting l3 housing the customary switch elementscontrolled by the turn-button M.

.The plug-in element H is substantially of frusto-conical shape and isprovided with an annular groove or recess l5 of approximatelyarcuateshape in cross-section and defining an inwardly-sloping anddownwardly-facing contact face or shoulder H5 at its upper side. Thesocket element [2 is substantially cylindrical in shape and has aplurality of spring tongues l1 secured at their lower ends to theinterior of the socket element and extending upwardly and inwardly intothe same for contacting and interlocking engagement with the annulargroove l5 of the plug-in element. By way of illustration, four of thesespring contact tongues are disposed radially of and equi-distant aboutthe (U1. PIG-32) socket l2 to centrally support the lamp therein, and,as shown in Figures 1 and 2, these tongues curve inwardly to provide theproperly yieldable fiexure and terminate at their upper ends inreversely bent contact or locking heads or portions I8 which are adaptedto releasably engage and snap into firm gripping contact with theplug-groove I5.

When inserting the lamp-plug in the socket, the beveled upper end IQ ofthe former first engages the curved portions of the spring contacttongues ll and spreads them outwardly, and upon the final thrust orforward stroke, the tongues spring inwardly into the plug-groove andtheir locking portions l8 interlock to make firm contact with theshoulder l6. By this construction the lamp is assured a firm andpositive electrical contact with the socket, and furthermore, the lampis effectually held against displacement from external vibrations, thespring tongues firmly gripping and clamping the lamp in place at alltimes.

If desired, the locking portions l8 of the spring tongues I! may beprovided with teats 20 and the opposing shoulder 16 of the plug-groove[5 may have companion depressions 2|, whereby the lamp is effectuallyheld against turning in its socket after insertion.

For the purpose of effecting the circulation of air about the plug andsocket elements and preventing their over-heating as well as that of thesuspension holder [3, I provide the side wall of the socket l2 withvent-openings 22 through which the heat is dissipated. These openings,

are preferably alternately arranged relatively to the spring tongues l1,and the fitting l3 has like openings 23 therein which register with ventopenings 22.

I claim as my invention: r

1. An electrical connector for electric lamps, comprising a plug-inelement having an annular groove therein defining a downwardly-facingshoulder, and a socket element of larger diameter than said plug-inelement to provide an air space thereabout and having spring tonguescontained within the same and extending upwardly and inwardly from thebottom thereof and terminating at their upper free ends in contact-headsreleasably engageable with the groove of said plug-in element and ininterlocking contact with the shoulder thereof.

2. An electrical connector for electric lamps, comprising a plug-inelement having an annular groove therein defining a downwardly-facingshoulder, and a socket element of larger diameter than said plug-inelement to provide an air space thereabout and having spring tonguescontained within the same and extending upwardly and inwardly from thebottom thereof and terminating at their upper free ends in contactheadsreleasably engageable with the groove of said plug-in element and ininterlocking contact With the shoulder thereof, said socket elementhaving vent openings in the side wall thereof between said tongues.

3. An electrical connector for electric lamps,

comprising a, plug-in element having an annular groove therein defininga downwardly-facing shoulder, said element being substantiallyfrustoconical in shape and having its lead-in end beveled, and a socketelement of larger diameter than said plug-in element to provide an airspace thereabout and having inwardly-curved spring tongues on theinterior thereof, said tongues being secured at their outer ends to theinner Wall of the socket element and terminating at their curved ends inreversely bent contact-heads for releasable interlocking engagement withsaid groove behind the shoulder thereof upon inserting the plug elementinto the socket element, the latter having vent openings in the 'sidewall thereof between said tongues.

JOHN MARSZALSKI.

